Disposable hypodermic needle destroyer

ABSTRACT

A portable hypodermic needle destroyer is provided having an axial opening to receive the needle and allow the user to safely grip the needle and snap it off from the syringe and provide a safe holder for the needle. In one form of the invention the opening is provided in the sheath having a diaphragm to maintain the sterility of the syringe allowing the needle and destroyer to be disposed as a unit. In another form the jaws of the destroyer are adjustable having separate jaw closing fingers and the needle is safely disposed within a container.

United States Patent Dick Mar. 12, 1974 [54] DISPOSABLE HYPODERMICNEEDLE 2,990,734 7/1961 Jackson 81/3 R DESTROYER 3,278,357 10/1966Gettig e161. 128 218 R x 3,329,146 7/1967 Waldman, Jr 206/43 X Inventor:Peter Dick, 1206 Gates 3,376,866 4/1968 Ogle 206/43 x Brooklyn, NY.11221 2,777,479 1/1957 Beanum 225/102 X [22] Flled: July 1971 PrimaryExaminerFrank T. Yost [21] Appl. N0.: 160,324 Attorney, Agent, orFirml-loward C. Miskin 52 us. c1. 225/93, 81/3 R, 128/218 R [57] ABSTRACT 51 1m. (:1 B26f 3/00 A Portable hypodermlc needle destmyerPmvlded [58] Field 61 Search 225/103 104 93 94 102; having an axial Preceive the needle and 81/3 83/167 925 1 266/43; allow the user tosafely grip the needle and snap it off 128/218 R, 5 S, 1 D 1 DA, 2,19,220, from the syringe and provide a safe holder for the nee- 215 dle. Inone form of the invention the opening is provided in the sheath having adiaphragm to maintain 56] References Cited the sterility of the syringeallowing the needle and de- UNITED STATES PATENTS stroyer to be disposedas a unit. In another formthe jaws of the destroyer are adjustablehaving separate 33971694 8/1968 Ogle 206/43 X jaw closing fingers andthe needle is safely disposed 2,488,956 11/1949 Yeskett.... 81/3 Rwithin a container 2,728,341 l2/1955 R'oehr 128/218 D 2,828,742 4/1958Ashkenaz 128/218 D 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures l 14 /\1 1 1- 1 I I l a lz Pmmmmz m4 ATTORNEY.

PETER DISPOSABLE HYPODERMIC NEEDLE DESTROYER This invention relates to anew and useful device for the destruction of hypodermic needles used inconjunction with disposable hypodermic syringes. This invention moreparticularly relates to a device capable of being carried by a nurse orother person administering parenternal medication which can quickly,easily and effectively destroy the used hypodermic needle.

With the advent of disposable syringes, each used in conjunction withits disposable needle, the possibility of cross infection becamegreater. An intact syringe and needle, once discarded by the primaryuser could transmit hepatitis and other infections, when used againinadvertently, or if picked up by unauthorized personnel and used. Anintact needle also poses a threat to cleaning and sanitary personnel,who may be stabbed by the used, infected shaft while gathering trash. Anumber of devices have been introduced into the market to accomplish thenecessary destruction of the needle. However, these devices are of astationary nature and require that the used hypodermic syringe bebrought to the vicinity of the destroying device which is oftentimes notreadily accessible at the time of use of the syringe. However, thepossibility of accidental cross-infection exists between the time thesyringe is used and the time the needle is destroyed and the possibilityof the unit falling into the wrong hands, or the unit not being broughtback to the area of destruction is not eliminated.

The principal object of this invention is to provide the medicalpractitioner or administrator with a means of destroying theinfection-carrying capacity of the used, disposable hypodermicsyringe-needle combination, immediately after use, at the site of theadministation of the medication.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portablehypodermic needle destroyer that is positive acting and simple and easyto use by nurses, doctors, or the like. I

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a disposablehypodermic needle destroyer that is available to the administrator ofthe shot immediately after the shot is given.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a hypodermicneedle destroyer that is portable, inexpensive to manufacture, easy andsafe to use and is positive acting in operation.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of the embodiments thereof when taken in conjunction withthe drawing, which accompanies the specification wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational, sectional view through a sheath coveringthe lower portion of a hypodermic needle, in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional elevational view of the upperportion of the sheath showing the hypodermic needle positioned justprior to its destruction;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational, crosssectional view of afurther embodiment of the present invention illustrating broken needlessafely contained;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational crosssectional view of thestructure shown in FIG. 3 being used to destroy a needle;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevational fragmentary view illustrating mounting theneedle destroyer to the needle container.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1. and 2 illustrate one form of theembodiment in which a resilient sheath 10 is removably mounted on theend of a disposable hypodermic syringe for covering and protecting theneedle and maintaining the unit in sterilized condition. The innerdiameter of sheath 10 forms a tight frictional fit with the outerperiphery of the syringe and securely covers the needle 12 of syringe14. The end of sheath 10 has an axially aligned opening or passageway 16therethrough, interrupted by a diaphragm 18 intermediate of its ends.Advantageously the portion of passageway 16 at the apex of the outerperipheral surface of sheath 10 diverges, as indicated at 20 to form aconical entranceway to aid in introducing the needle 12 as will bediscussed below. Preferably conical portion 20 locates and directs theneedle into passageway 16. The remaining portion of passageway 16,indicated at 22, advantageously has a diameter equal to or slightly lessthan the outer diameter of needle 12 to provide a positive holdingaction on the needle.

To use syringe 14, sheath 10 is removed and the syringe is used for themedical purpose desired. To prevent other use being made of syringe 14,immediately after use, needle 12 is inserted into the conical guide 20of passageway 16 in sheath 10 and a pressure exerted on the syringeforcing needle 12 through diaphragm l8 and into portion 22. Needle 12 isinserted to its full length into sheath 10, so that the conical guide 20abuts the bottom of syringe 14 and the negative clearance of portion 22of passageway 16 distends sheath 10, thereby positively holding theneedle firmly within sheath 10, as seen best in FIG. 2. The operator oradministrator holding sheath 10 firmly about needle 12 pivots syringe 14such as in the direction of arrow 24 whereby needle 12 is snapped offabout the lip of conical guide 20. The sheath fixedly retains the brokenneedle in portion 22 of opening lo and is then reinserted over the endof syringe l4 and the unit may be safely discarded. Since thedestruction of the needle takes place immediately after the medicationor other use is made of syringe 14, there is no change for crossinfection nor is there any possibility of the syringe being used againby unauthorized personnel, nor can the needle accidently harm anycleaning or sanitary personnel handling the rubbish or trash in thehospital or medical office. Since the sheath is readily available afteruse of the syringe, the destruction of the needle on the syringe can bedone quickly and safely immediately after use.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 through6 in which a portable needle and destruction unit 26 is shown. Unit 26has a needle clamping body 27 shown with a resilient three jawed chuckand containing an open end interior volume 40. Also, body 27 could havefour, five or more jaws. The jaws 28 of the chuck are adjustableadvantageously from a zero orifice to an orifice capable of accepting atleast a 13 gauge hypodermic needle and in unrestrained condition remainin maximum open position. The outer surfaces of the ends of jaws 28 aretapered as indicated at 29. Body 27 has a cylindrical skirt portion 30extending downwardly from jaws 28 which has a pair of outwardly directedradial shoulders 34 intermediate of its ends and on opposite sides. Theportion of skirt 30 between jaws 28 and shoulders 34 is threaded asindicated at 32. Skirt 30 has on opposite sides of each of shoulders 34,a pair of longitudinally extending slits 37 defining a pair of arms 36.Extending along arms 36 are outwardly directed ribs 38. Arms 36terminate in an outwardly directed lip 39. Body 27 contains alongitudinal passageway 41 extending between jaws 28, which communicateswith interior volume 40. The outer ends of jaws 28 have an interiorlydirected finger 42 for gripping the needle in a manner to be discussedbelow.

Mounted about the outer surface of body 37 is a jaw closer 43 havingbeveled fingers 44 which slidably engage the tapered outer surface 29 ofjaws 28 and form cam surfaces for interacting with the tapered surfacesof jaws 28. The inner bottom portion of jaw closer 43 is threaded at 46,which threads mate with threads 32 on body 27.

Mounted on the open end of body 27 is container 48 which has a reducedneck portion 50 with an interior diameter to cooperatively receive theouter diameter of lower portion of skirt 30. Neck 50 has a pair oflongitudinally extending grooves 52 on opposite sides, seen best in FIG.5, which matingly receive ribs 38. Neck 50 is of a length substantiallythe distance between the lower surface of shoulders 34 and the uppersurface of lips 39 to securely hold container 48 on body 27. Container48 has an interior volume 54 for holding destroyed needles. For safetypurposes, a bactericidal compound 56 is inserted within volume 54 priorto use, as shown in solid form, which will prevent the compound fromspilling out if the container is inverted. The bactericidal compoundcould also be in jellied or highly viscous form or soaked in cotton orthe like. To have container 48 reusable, a cap 58 is securely mounted onthe bottom of container 48 and held in position either by' a force orfriction fit, clamp or is threaded.

To hold unit 26 in a pocket of the user, a cap 60 is positioned overbody portion 27 and snugly engages neck 50 of container 48. A clip 62 oncap 60 allows unit 26 to be fastened in the pocket of the user.

In operation, after use of syringe 64, the user inserts a needle 66 onsyringe 64 within opening 41 such as shown in FIG. 4. Cylindrical jawcloser 43 is rotated to urge: FIGS. 44- downwardly on tapered surface 29of jaws. 27 which closes fingers 42 on the ends of jaws 27 tightlyagainst needle 66. The syringe 64 is bent as illustrated. in FIG- 4,,thereby snapping needle 66 off adjacent the. bottom of syringe 64. Uponunthreading jaw closer 43,. needle 66 is released and falls withinvolume 54- of container 48 into the bactericidal or bacteriastatic:compound 56. The used needles as shown in 68 can do no further harm ofcross-infection or unauthorized use.

As' seen by rotating jaw closer 43, fingers 44 move along the taperedsurfaces 29 on jaws 27 forcing jaws 27' to be tightly closed whenclosure 43 is moved downwardly on body 27 as shown in FIG. 4 or allowsjaws 27 to open due to the inherent resilience of body 27 when movedupwardly as shown in FIG. 3. To replace container 48, an inward pressureis exerted on shoulders 34, as seen best in FIG. 6, allowing arms 36 tobe flexed inwardly thereby disengaging lips 39 from the underside ofneck 50 and container 48 can be slid off of lower portion of skirt 30.

Advantageously, body 27 can be made out of tough, durable, resilientplastic or a resilient metal. Similarly, container 48 should be oftransparent plastic to allow easy visibility as to when it should beemptied or dis-- carded. Also, other means of mounting container 48 tobody 27 than that shown, such as threads or clamps, can be used.

It will be evident to persons skilled in the art that this invention canbe adapted to various other uses and situations, and that variouschanges and modifications can be made all within the scope and spirit ofthis invention. It is therefore to be understood that any patentissuing, is not limited to the modifications disclosed herein, or in anymanner other than bythe scope of the appended claims when given therange of equivalents to which this patent may be entitled.

I claim:

1. A portable needle destroyer of a hypodermic needle on a disposablesyringe comprising a needle covering sheath adapted to be removablymounted on said syringe, said sheath having a body defining an interiorvolume to receive said needle when said sheath is mounted on saidsyringe, said body having a closed tip at the end remote from saidsyringe and containing a longitudinal passageway communicating with saidvolume, said passageway having an entrance at the outer end of said tipand having an interior diameter to snugly receive said needle.

2. A portable destroyer of a hypodermic needle on a disposable syringecomprising a needle covering sheath removably mounted on said syringe,said sheath having a body defining an interior volume, said bodycontaining a longitudinal passageway in the end of said sheathcommunicating with said volume, said passageway having an entrance whichis conical to aid in locating the passageway for the needle and havingan interior diameter to snugly receive said needle, a diaphragmintermediate of the ends of said passageway being cloer to the outer tipof said sheath, the portion of the passageway interiorly of thediaphragm having a diameter equal to or less than the diameter of saidneedle.

3. A needle destroyer as in claim 1 wherein said sheath is formed of aflexible material.

4. A needle destroyer as in claim 1, wherein said passageway in saidsheath is interrupted by a diaphragm intermediate of its ends.

1. A portable needle destroyer of a hypodermic needle on a disposablesyringe comprising a needle covering sheath adapted to be removablymounted on said syringe, said sheath having a body defining an interiorvolume to receive said needle when said sheath is mounted on saidsyringe, said body having a closed tip at the end remote from saidsyringe and containing a longitudinal passageway communicating with saidvolume, said passageway having an entrance at the outer end of said tipand having an interior diameter to snugly receive said needle.
 2. Aportable destroyer of a hypodermic needle on a disposable syringecomprising a needle covering sheath removably mounted on said syringe,said sheath having a body defining an interior volume, said bodycontaining a longitudinal passageway in the end of said sheathcommunicating with said volume, said passageway having an entrance whichis conical to aid in locating the passageway for the needle and havingan interior diameter to snugly receive said needle, a diaphragmintermediate of the ends of said passageway being cloer to the outer tipof said sheath, the portion of the passageway interiorly of thediaphragm having a diameter equal to or less than the diameter of saidneedle.
 3. A needle destroyer as in claim 1 wherein said sheath isformed of a flexible material.
 4. A needle destroyer as in claim 1,wherein said passageway in said sheath is interrupted by a diaphragmintermediate of its ends.